GLOBAL CYCLE EVENT

In a world increasingly preoccupied with throwaway materialistic things; where people are constantly busy earning money to pay for those things, or so their children can have those things;This is the story of my dreams of travelling the world by bicycle. Because it's there. And because I dont want to die without experiencing the truly important things in life .

A sense of wonder and a sense of adventure.

Sunday, 25 August 2013

Le Grand Arrivee'.

That’s it then.

The cycle computer clicks over to 7350kms and its all over.
And I can’t say that it is a day too soon. There comes a time when you are sick
of getting up each day and packing away all your stuff, taking down the tent
and eating canned fruit and yogurt for breakfast. Only to have to get it all
out again 130kms up the road, put up the tent and then repeat all those
repetitive tasks that are the backbone of organised cycle touring. You have to
be organised to ride across a continent as large as this negotiating all the
hiccups along the way, never resorting to taking a vehicle ride and still
managing to get to the end in time to catch your flight home. But for me I know
that 6 weeks is generally enough.The
problem is that at times countries / continents are more than a 6 week trek
across.

Halifax Harbour.

This will be my last post on this adventure. Adi and I are
at the Halifax International airport and importantly not only are we still
talking too each other but I know that there aren’t many women out there that
could do what she has done in the last 9 weeks and still have the strength to
lift their 23kg bike bag onto the scales at check-in. I’m certainly lucky to have
nabbed her when I did back in 1983 and to have had so many cycle adventures
together.

If there was a pedestal at the airport and a medal I’d stand
her on it and take her picture. Then post it on the social media sites like all
the others you see.But you don’t get
medals or grand publicity for this sort of achievement and perhaps that’s the
way I like it. It will be a sad day when cycle touring joins that sort of
circus.

But once again Adi, because I know you will read this,
welcome to the transcontinental cycle club. No medals but you certainly deserve
one.

O and what are we having for dinner tonight.

We confirmed our flights yesterday and were told we will
have to pay an additional $50 dollars bike handling fee for each bike, surprise
surprise. But what wasn’t anticipated was to find airport security busy trying
to load the bikes into a van when we left the terminal building for the ride
back to the airport motel.Their dastardly
plan was foiled by the weight of the bikes and gear and their lack of
understanding on the dynamics of a fully loaded touring bike. They couldn’t
make the quick getaway they normally would with a passenger’s baggage and had
to admit defeat and tell us to ‘just not do it again’.

So that’s about it.

Back home to the more comfortable routine of home
improvements, bike shop work, and because the Paris-Brest –Paris is on the
horizon, a bit of randoneuring and racing.

I will need a racing bike!

I think maybe my retro Raleigh Panasonic with a new Shimano
Dura-Ace groupset. (Hope the bike shop will take me back.)

GLOBAL CHALLENGE DISTANCES

Quite a few thousand kms cycling around Nz this year.Mini tour around Sth Island.Nelson to Taupo Return.And of course general commuting.South America.

Lima to Rio De Janiero 4500kms

Vietnam

Chinese Border to Cambodian Border. 2500km

Total Distance Covered for the Year: 20500km

The Wheel and Niel

Started cycling on my sisters bike because I was too small for my own one. My parents wouldn't buy me one until I was nearer double figures. Crashed on the beach a number of times before I mastered the principles of two wheeled travel.

Since I was too small to sit on the saddle and pedal at the same time I perfected the BMX technique of pedalling for extended periods and then resting while seated. This technique came in handy later in life while climbing the French Alps.

Spent many hours renovating my sisters bike and did such a good job that she then demanded it back! First lesson learned. Bike mechanicals are easy but never trust your sister.

This resulted in a huge family argument putting my parents in the position where they had to buy me my first bike.